Zoology of the Indian Archipelago. 21 17 



Zoology of the Indian Archipelago. 



The living creatures of the Eastern Archipelago are numerous and varied. In the 

 vast woods, there so abundant and so extensive, the explorer may constantly hear the 

 rush of the elephant and see his dark colossal form bursting through the thickets, at 

 the same instant that his eye is attracted by some tiny lizard crawling up the trunk of 

 a tree, or making its slow way noiselessly over the face of a damp rock at the margin 

 of a stream. Four-footed beasts, birds of gorgeous plumage, and almost every variety 

 of reptile and insect, are to be met with, though comparatively few are of a malignant 

 or dangerous nature. 



Borneo itself, one of the most extraordinary countries of the group of Twelve 

 Thousand Islands, harbours an immense variety of living creatures. In the northern 

 parts, in the recesses of deep forests, the natives say that the elephant exists, though 

 it has not been seen by any modern traveller. Most probably, however, it does live, 

 or did once live there, though it may now be extinct, as several teeth have been disco- 

 vered in the vicinity of Cape Unsing. We are inclined to believe, that when research 

 shall have been further extended, the elephant will be discovered treading the deep, 

 and at present inaccessible wilds, where for ages he has lived in perfect security. If 

 he be common, there must be a vast amount of herbage growing wild in the in- 

 terior. 



It has been ascertained, that in the remotest marshy forests of the interior the rhi- 

 noceros exists. It is seldom seen, and is said to be rare. The habits of this animal, 

 however, lead us to conjecture that it may be much more common in Borneo than is 

 generally supposed. Loving the dark jungle, it seldom crosses the path of the travel- 

 ler, but rather haunts the least frequented spots, living on such vegetable substances 

 as it can procure. 



No lions, tigers, wolves, foxes or jackalls, are to be found in Borneo, but a species 

 of panther has been seen, though not of a large size or sanguinary disposition. In 

 appearance it resembles the famous hunting cheeta of India. The small Malayan 

 bear is found on the west coast, and is also exceedingly common in the district inha- 

 bited by the tribe of Dyaks known as the Kayans, whose whole clothing is frequently 

 made of this animal's skin. It also lives in the woods, feeding on vegetables, and 

 eating honey with avidity when it can procure it. Oftentimes it is seen climbing to 

 the tops of the tallest tapang palms, in search of the wild bees' nest. The large Ma- 

 layan bear is common all over the country, and affords excellent sport to the European 

 settlers at Sarawak : its flesh is coarse, insipid, and quite devoid of fat, not much 

 sought after by Europeans, but greatly relished by the natives. 



Wild pigs are abundant. Though the Dyaks are constantly employed in hunting 

 and setting traps for them in the jungle, so that thousands and tens of thousands are 

 slaughtered every year, they still keep multiplying in an astonishing degree. There 

 are two kinds ; the large, long-legged, bristly, brown pig, mostly inhabiting the sea- 

 shore districts, and the white, short-legged, barrel-bodied pig, which lives chiefly in the 

 interior. Both species subsist on vegetable substances, devouring everything of the 

 kind which comes in their way, especially fruits, of which they are ravenously fond, 

 which accounts for their always growing fat and well-flavoured in the fruit season. 

 Pork forms one of the principle articles of food among the Dyak tribes. Wher- 

 ever the traveller stops, at every farm, round every village, every town, city and 

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